The English Football League has turned down a new Stg£60million offer from ITV Digital's administrators in the latest attempt to re-negotiate the Stg£315million three-year deal to televise Nationwide League matches.
Clifford Chance, the City law firm acting for ITV Digital's administrators, faxed the new deal, an increase of just Stg£10million on their original offer, to the League's lawyers last night.
The move follows the decision by ITV Digital's owners, Granada and Carlton, to place the company in administration.
They are threatening to pull the plug on the company unless the League agrees to renegotiate the three-year deal.
The League is owed Stg£178.5million for the last two years but ITV Digital had offered just Stg£50million until yesterday.
The offer includes a new condition that Granada, Carlton and their directors are released from any threat of a damages claim from the League, which currently plans to sue for over Stg£500million if there is a breach of the existing deal.
The key question has always been whether Granada and Carlton as parent companies are liable for the debts of ITV Digital.
PA